Spring-hinge.



w. J. KEENE 1 e. w. SCHUSTER.

SPRING HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.3. 1910.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

COLUMRIA PLANOGRAPH Cl)..WASHVNfiInN n r UNITED TATE PATENT @FFIQE.

WILLIAM J. KEENE AND GEORGE SCI-IUSTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS TO CHICAGO SPRING BUTT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

SPRING-HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 31, 1915.

Application filed January 3, 1910. Serial No. 535,951.

To all whom it 1m 1y concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. KEENE and GEORGE W. SoHUsTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Hinges, of which we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

The present invention has relation, more particularly, to the improvement of doubleacting spring hinges of that class in which the swinging of the door or hinged part to either side of the center serves to effect the longitudinal compression of a coiled spring that is mounted upon a bolt arranged to turn about the post that forms the center of oscillation, the reaction of said coiled spring serving to return the door or hinged part to its normally closed position.

The invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the door, its frame and the floor, and through the hinge mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section on line l-4: of Fig. l.

A designates a portion of the door and B denotes a portion of the floor or threshold beneath the door. To the floor or the threshold B is secured a base plate 0 wherein is fixed and rigidly held the lower end of a vertical post D that forms the center of oscillation about which the door A will swing. As shown, the lower end of the post D is reduced and preferably formed of oblong shape, so that it will be securely held within the plate C against rotation, the end of the post being upset to securely retain it in engagement with the plate. The frame of 'our improved hinge consists preferably of a plate or bar E bent at right angles to form the members e and e that will be screwed to the door and the rectangular plate or bar E having reduced ends that pass through holes formed in the members 6 and e of the bar E, these reduced ends of the plate E being upset, as at e and 6 to securely hold them in engagement with the plate E. The plates E and E are also connected together by the transverse plates E and E that have reduced portions passing through holes inthe plates E and E and securely interlocked therewith.

In the plates E and E are formed holes to receive the post D. As shown, a bushing F is fitted within the hole in the plate E,

this bushing F forming a bearing around the post D, and the bushing F is flanged at top and bottom to securely retain it in position upon the plate E. The central portion of the post D is formed with an expanded part d having a vertically raised portion d that have journal pins or trunnions g. The 1 post D is straddled by a yoke H that is preferably formed integral with the inner end of the bolt II, this yoke I-I having its slot 72. of suilicient length to allow a free movement of the yoke with respect to the post D. At the end of the yoke H is formed the depending abutment or lug h, preferably of segmental shape, the end portions of this abutment or lug bearing normall' against the stops or anti-friction rollers g and Gr (see Fig. 3).

The bolt H passes through holes formed in the plates E and E and carries the coiled spring K. One end of the coiled spring K bears against the plate E while the opposite end of this spring bears against an adjusting nut M that is screw threaded upon the bolt H; and by means of this nut M the tension of the coiled spring K may be regulated as desired.

Upon the reduced upper portion of the post D at a point above the yoke H is placed an annular cup P that receives the anti-friction balls R and above these balls R and encircling the post D is a flanged steel bearing collar S.

At the sides of the frame of our improved hinge side plates T are preferably employed, these plates being screwed to the sides of the door and serving to close in the parts against access of dust or dirt thereto.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the parts are in the normal position shown in Fig. 1, and by full,

lines in Fig. 2, the depending portion or abutment h of the yoke H will be drawn against the studs or rollers G and G by the coiled spring K and the force of the spring will therefore serve to hold the door in a normally central position. If the door be swung to either side of its center, as, for example, in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the stop or roller G, by its engagement with the end of the abutment it, will cause the yoke H and bolt H to move inwardly, thereby compressing the coiled spring K, and when pressure from the door is relieved, the spring K will serve to restore the door to its normally central position.

- One important advantage in providing a yoke that straddles the post D is that the yoke-serves not only to effect the compression of the coiled spring, but also, by its engagement with the post, serves to effectively resist the side strains that will necessarily come incident to the swinging movement of the door. Moreover, by arranging the abutment-of the yoke so that the yoke shall engage the stops or rollers G and G at their inner sides, that is to say, at points farthest from the coiled spring K, the increased tension of the coiled spring is effected by drawing the spring toward the post D instead of forcing the spring from the post, as in prior constructions, and as the bolt moves toward the post the engagement of the yoke with the post is at all times securely maintained. So, also, by thus having the yoke engage the stops or rollers G, G, a more easy, accurate and effective working of the parts is insured.

The engagement of the central portion of the post D with the slot h of the yoke H forms a bearing which guides the longitudinal movement of the yoke and bolt H and reduces the wear upon the parts. Moreover, by having the yoke engage the inner sides of the stops or rollers, the friction between the yoke and its central bearing upon the post, as the door is shifted in one or the other direction, is a sort of rolling friction which also aids in reducing the wear. The post D is journaled in both the upper and lower bars E and E of the frame and the ball bearing between the upper frame bar and the reduced upper end of the post 1. A spring hinge of the character de-- scribed comprising a floor plate, an upright post mounted on said plate and hav ing a pair of stops on opposite sides of the center thereof, a hinge frame pivotally engaging said post, a spring actuated bolt mounted to shift longitudinally in said hinge frame, said bolt having at its inner end, a longitudinally slotted yoke and bearing upon said post to guide the longitudinal shift of said bolt and yoke, said yoke extending inwardly over said stops and having a depending abutment at its inner end engaging the inner sides thereof, substantially as described.

2. A double acting spring hinge comprising a hinge frame adapted to be seated in the recessed corner of a door, a floor plate to which said hinge frame is pivotally connected, a longitudinally reciprocating bolt mounted in said hinge frame and having a yoke at its inner end, said yoke having a longitudinal slot with parallel side walls, a

bearing member extending through said slot and engaging the parallel side walls thereof as said reciprocating bolt and yoke are shifted, a guide at the outer end 'of said hinge frame engaging the outer end of said bolt, said guide and said bearing member being arranged to compel the shift of said bolt and said yoke in longitudinal direction only with respect to said hinge frame, a pair of stops fixed in position at opposite sides of the hinge pivot, said stops being arranged to engage the inner end of said yoke on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis thereof and a spring coiled about said bolt for holding the same in normal position with the inner end of said yoke in engagement with said stops.

3. A double acting springhin-ge comprising a plate having apost mounted thereon and stops on opposite sides of said post, a hinge frame pivotally mounted on said post, a longitudinally reciprocating bolt mounted in said hinge frame and having a yoke at its inner end, said yoke having a longitudinal slot with parallel side walls engaging and bearing on said post as said reciprocating bolt and yoke are shifted, said hinge frame having a transverse guide plate at its outer end through which the outer end of said bolt extends, said plate and said post being arranged to guide the shift of said-bolt and yoke in longitudinal direction with respect said bolt and engaging the outer end of to said hinge frame, and said yoke extending said spring, substantially as described.

inwardly beyond said stops and having an WILLIAM J KEENE abutment at its inner end engaging the in- 1 ner sides of said stops, a spring coiled about GEORGL SGHUSTER' said bolt and having its inner end engaging Witnesses: a portion of: said hinge frame, and an ad- HARRY R. LUTHER, justing nut threaded on the outer end of I. L. LUTHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

